Closing and opening device for refrigerator-car doors.



T. H. GARLAND. CLOSING AND OPENING DEVICE FOR REFRIGERATOR GAR DOORS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 20, 1911. 1,037,892, Patented Sept. 10, 191 2.

2 BHBETS-SHEBT 1.

T. H. GARLAND. CLOSING AND OPENING DEV-1GB FUR REFRIGERATOR GAR DOORS.

' APPLICATION FILED SEPT.20,1911..

Patented Sept. 10, 1912.

2 EKEETS-SHEET 2.

idem 5. ar/and n w-we closure, even though the doors TENT OFFHT THOMAS H. GARLAND, OF CHICAGQ ILLINOIS.

CLOSING AND OPENING DEVICE FORREFRIGERATOR"GAR DOORS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS H. GARLAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at lhicago, co'ui'ity of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefullmprovementsin Closing and Opening Devices for ltefrigeratonCar Doors, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to closing and opening devices for doors and is especially applicable to refrigerator car doors. The latter, being constructed with padded edges in order to prevent the escape of the cold air and the entry of warm air, require a'close fit between the car door and its frame whenever the door is closed, in order to maintain the efficiency of the car. But, in practice, the padding becomes damp and often torn, so that it requires considerable force both to close the door and open it.

In my prior application, Serial No. 637,814, filed July 10,1911, I have disclosed a. closing device designed to elfeet a tight may bind (in account ofthe poor condition of the padding on their edges, or for other reasons. In that device, as'in the two levers pivoted, respectively, upon the upper and lower portions of the door and adapted to overlap at their inner ends to be secured in locking position and cooperating at their outer ends with cam bearing surfaces located upon the adjacent edges of the doorand the frame to bring about an effcctive closure Whenever the 'levers are moved to locking position-and this even though the door be somev distance from being closed at the time the levers are brought into play.

The present invention on that disclosed in my prior application and includes an improved arrangement of the levers by which a single act (iii the partof the user will move the levers from open to closed position, thereby preventing improper manipulation of the levers.

The present improvements also include means by which the opening movement of the levers will force the door open. This is quite necessary in instances Where the padding is in poor condition and the doors stick or set in closed position.

Specification of Letters Iarent. Application filed Septeinber 20, 1911.

present, I pro vide' line (lrl of Fig. 1;

is an improvement Patented Elept. id, 3191222, Serial HI). 650,448.

These and other features of the invention, together w th their advantages, will be more fully understood upon reference to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the scope of the invention will be particiilarly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a i: anti elevation of a portion of a refrigerator car having a door provided with a closing and opening device, constructed in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 53 trates the retaining means associated with the upper edge of the car door, parts being shown in section taken on a plane indicated by the line A--l3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the cam lug located upon the sill at the lower edge of the car door and form ing a portion of the retaining means located at that point; Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, illustrating the retaining means at the lower edge of the car door. the section being taken on a plane indicated by the line (7 D of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the device and the car door and frame, taken on a plane indicated by the and Fig. 6 a perspective view of the device, the car doors and the frame, the section of the door lacing taken on a plane indica ted by the line l I-l-F of Fig. l.

'lhroughcut these views, like characters refer to like parts.

Referring to the drawing in detail, 10 designates the body of the car provided with the usual doors 11 and 12, mounted upon the hinges 13 and 14:, respectively. The construction of the body of the car and of the doors the usual construction and forms no part of my invention. As illustrated, the doors are formed with dead air spaces 15 and, forconi'ei'iience. i have termed the portion of the car wall, into which the doors lit, the door frame. al; though I have not illustrated any special frame construction. As illustrated, the (in-- gaging portions of the doors 11 and 12 are also beveled and provided with the usual padding 16 upon theirengaging edges, and the padding 17 upon their upper and lower edges, the latter being illustrated particuupper end of the lower lever, however, is at an angle to this alinement and is conneeted at its outer end by the link 42 to an intermediate point of the lever 20. The. bend, or angular extension at. the upper end of the lever 2], enables the force applied by hand to the lower end of the upper lever 20 to be properly transmitted to the lower lever. This arrangement enables the door to be rinsed or opened by a simple movement of the lever 20, and there is, therefore, no opportunity for mistake in bringing the parts to their elosed position.

In operation, assuming that. the doors are open and it is desired to elose them, the letthand door 11. is first closed, or approximately closed, and the right-hand door is then elosed upon it. Beeause of the beveled" edges of these doors, the (dosing of the latter will close. the further. 'hen the two doors have been brought to their approximately rlosed position by hand, then, although the right-hand door may be three or tour inehes from being elosed, the movement of the levers 20 and it From their dotted line position oi Fig. '1 to their full line position will Cause the doors to be formal shut soas to provide a tight closure, the right-hand door elusing in response to the action of the lever upon the ram faces, and the lett-hand door responding to the closing of the right-hand door. hen the levers have been brought to their full line position, the jointed end 31 of lever 20 may he slipped over the eve-bolt 3t) and the doors sealed, lorked or otherwise secured. in opening the doors, the reverse operation is performed. The movement of the levers to their dotted line 'iosition causes their outer ends'to engage the ram ridges 3S and 39 and to forcibly open the right-hand door. \Vith the latter open, the left-hand elined, as illustrated. 1

door may lie-readily opened by means of the handle 1H, after moving the button it to open position in ease it is used. In order to proteet. the doors of the ear against wear at the pointwhere the levers 20 and 2'] are eonneeted by the link -12, I preferably pro-- vide (-tltll. door with a wear plate, the plate of door It being designated 43, and that of door 12 being designated li.

It will, of eom'se. be understood that. in earrying out my invention, certain alterations and nmditirations may be made without departing from its spirit and scope. it will also I vapparent that. the invention applicable to a. single door as well as to two doors, as illustrated. Likewise, the ram bearing fares at the upper and lower edges of the door may be varied. Thus, inrlined fares on the -door may eotiperate with flat fares on the frame, or vire versa, instead of having the faces on both door and trame insought to cover all such alterations and llltttllfictltlu1lS,'tls come within the spirit and have however,

scope of the invention, by the term of the appended elaims.

hat l elaim as new and desire to -i-t-nre by Letters Patent of the United fitaies l 1. The combination with a door frame and a door hinged thereon. ot' a inviting l- -\'.-r pivoted at an intermediate point in its length near the free edge of the d or and adapted, when in elosed position, r extend beyoniil the door over the adja ent p rt on of the frame, a lug llttllll'hil Stt'ltlt'tl to said adjacent portion of the frame and having an open-ended slot for the reeeption oi" ne end of said lever. said slot having similarly inclined bearing fares for engaging the opposite sides of the lever, the one t iorre said door shut as the lever is being move l from open to closed position, and the other to force the door open as the lever being moved from closed to open position. a hear-- ing plate on the door adjaeent: to said lug member having a cam tare inclined oppositely to the bearing fares oi said lug member and adapted to engage the inner side of said lever and means arting on the other end of said lever to hold it in loeking |)(Ls l tion.

:2. The combination with a door frame and a d .-0r hinged thereon, of a locking lever pivoted at an intermediate point in its length near the free edge of the door and adapted, when in closed position. to extend beyond the door over the adjacent porti n of the frame, a tug member secured to said adjacent portion of the frame and having an open-ended slot for the reception 01' one end of the lever. said slot having similarly inclined bearing faces for engaging the op posite sides of the lever, the one to torre said door shut as the lever is being moved from opt-n to elosed position. and the other to force the door open as the -lever is being moved from elosed to open position. a hear ing plate on the door adjacent to said lug member having a cam ta '0 inelined oppositely to the bearing fate of said lug mem her and adapted to enga, 'e the inner side. of said lever, a guide upon the d or adjacent to said eam are operating to take the strain from said lever in ease it is improperly toreed into engagement with said tug men'iber by the elosing of the d or with the. lever in the wrong position and means acting on the other end of said lever to hold it in lot-hing position.

It. The eomliination with a door fram and a. door hinged th reon. ot' a lor'lv'ing lever pivoted near the tree edge oi the door and adapted, when in elosed position, to extend beyond the door over the adjarent portion of the frame. a wedge l)l()('l\' on the outer end of said lever, and :1 lug member secured to said adjacent portion of the frame and having an open-ended slot for the reception of said wedge member and the tit portion of the lever to 'Whieh it is attached, said slot having similarly inclined hearing t'aees, the one to engage said bearing hloek to t'oree said door shut. as the lever is being moved from open to elosed position, and the other to engage the inner side of the outer end ot said lever to fore-e the door open as the lever is heing' moved from elosed to open position, the inrlinatiion ol the outer fare of the wedge liloeh' living the. same as that oi the inelined taees of the lug member when t e parts are in rlosnd position, whereby a good hearing is maintained lie-tween the, said lever and lug nieniher when the door is elosed.

4. The eonihination with a door frame and a door hinged thereon, ol lot-icing; levers pivoted to the. upper and lower portions of the. floor respeetively, means eoiiperating with the outer ends of said levers to force the door shut upon the elosing moven'uint of sflltl levers. a handle at the lower end of said upper lever. and a link (connecting the. upper end (it said lower lever to said upper lever at a point helow the latter's pivotal eonneetion to the, door.

:3. The romhination with a. door frame and a door hinged thereon, of looking levers pivoted to the upper and lower portions of the door respectively, means eotiperating with the outer ends of said levers to force the door shut. upon the closing movement of said Eevers, said levers overlapping (.iU'l] other when in eloserl position and the. upper leve" having: a jointed end, a staple on the lower lever adapted to pass through an opening); in said jointed end to enalile the levers to he loelzed together. a handle at the lower end of said upper level. and a link ronneeting the upper end of said lower lever to said upper lever at a point. below the. latlers pivotal eonneetion to the door.

J). The, eonibination with a door frame and a door hinged thereon. of lot-king levers pivoted to the upper and lower portions ol' the door respeetivel v. means eoZiperat-ing with the outer ends ot said leverst I force the door shut upon the (losing movement ol' .-.'i l lovers, the lower lever having itslrner portion adapted to lie in line with the upper lever when the parts are in rlnse l po-.ition and its upper portion lTt('liIl(('l thrreto. and a liul: eonneetingl the int-lined portion ol' said lower lever to an intermediate point in said upper lever.

7. The rondiination with a door lrame and a door hinged thereon. of looking" levers pivoted to the upper and lower portions of the door rtpertivvlv. means eoiiperating with the outer ends oi said levers to l oree the door shut upon the rinsing movement ot' said levers. the inner r.u-tions.o'l' said ho o overl pping eaeh other when |n rlosed position and the lower lever having its upper end bent out. of such alinement, a link eonneeting the upper end of said lower lever to an intermediate point of said upper lever, a jointed end on the lower end of the. upper lever, and a staple on the lower lever adapted to pass through an opening in said jointed end to enahle the levers to he invited together.

The eomhinat-ion with a door frame and a door hinged thereon, of a locking lever 20 pivoted near the upper edge of the door, a lot-Ling lever 3L pivoted near the lower edge of the door, said levers. .20 and 2.1 hein; adapted, when in closed posit-ion, to extend res; eeti"i"el beyond the upper and lower el'lgres oi" the door over the adjacent portions of the frame, a jointed end 31 and a eooperating staple 30 and slot 35 for holding the inner ends of said levers 20 and 21 in loelcing position, wedge liloeks 28 and 29 on the outer ends of said levers 20hnd 21, respectively, an upper lug 24 having similarly inelined hearing faces adapted the one to engage said hearing block 28 to force. said door shut as the lever is being moved from open to elosed position, and the other to engage the inner side, of the outer end of said lever 20 to Foree the door open asthe lever is being moved from closed to open position. and a similar lower lug having in lined hearing faces for cooperating in the same way with the wedge block -29 and tvhe inner sideof the lowet" end' of lever 21.

S). The combination with a door frame and a door hinged thereon, of lockihg levers. 2t) and 21 pivoted to the upper and lower portions of the door respectively, lugs 24 and '25 having inclined bearin faces c0- operating with the. outer ends 0 said levers to three the door shut upon the closing of said levers, said levers overlapping each other when in elosed position and lever20 having a jointed end 31 and lever 21 having' an .mgrularly disposed upper end, a staple on lever 21 adapted to pass through an opening in jointedend 31 to enahle the levers to he loeked together, a handle- 36, and a link 42 eonneet-ing the upper end of lever 21 to an intermediate'point, of lever 20. i i

to. The eonihination with a door frame and a door hinged thereon, of locking levers 2t) and 21 pivoted to the upper and lower .portions oi the door respeetively, lugs 24 and 25 upon the upper and lower edges of the lranie having inelined hearing faces (0- operating with the outer ends of the levers 3t) and 2t respertively to force the door shut upon the elosing movmnentof said levers and open upon their opening movement, the inner portions of said levers being in salineinent and overlapping'earh other when in rlosed position and lever Bl having its up-' sis ions in Letters PatentNo. 1,037,892.

Correct per and bani: out. of such ahnenmnt, a link cmu'xecting the upper and, of Eaver 21 to m i' i'ermediaisz punt. on

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe Raver 20, a jcinted smug the; emi 0i lever 20 ii and nfit-alpha .41? upon lever 21 in extend through {an opening 35 1904 and 31 to ezmble the lovers 1 be locked bogather, i

THOMAS H. GABLmn.

Witnm:

. J. Hmima,

L M. Asmw.

It is mummy certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,037,892, granted Sefiterhber 10,

1912, upon the application of Thomas H. Garland, of Chicago, Illinois, for an improvenmnt in Closing and )pvning Devices for Refrigerator-Ca1- Doors, errm's appear in the printml :swcifimflon requiring correction as follows: Page 2, line 29,

f0! ihe word The" i'asad read 5L9; page line i9, for the word floor read LEI/0r, and that the said Letters Pam-st should read with thvsc cmrvct-ions therein that the same may conform to thv 1: .0111 of tin case in the Patent (755cc.

Sig? Ad and sealed this 8th day of Gctuher, A. D. 1912.

(J. U. BILLINGS,

Arting Comm-imimwr of Iatmts.

my name this 18th day of September, 1911. 10

TM}; mine page, line 70, for the. refelence-mlmeral 39 ions in Letters PatentNo. 1,037,892.

Correct per and bani: out. of such ahnenmnt, a link cmu'xecting the upper and, of Eaver 21 to m i' i'ermediaisz punt. on

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe Raver 20, a jcinted smug the; emi 0i lever 20 ii and nfit-alpha .41? upon lever 21 in extend through {an opening 35 1904 and 31 to ezmble the lovers 1 be locked bogather, i

THOMAS H. GABLmn.

Witnm:

. J. Hmima,

L M. Asmw.

It is mummy certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,037,892, granted Sefiterhber 10,

1912, upon the application of Thomas H. Garland, of Chicago, Illinois, for an improvenmnt in Closing and )pvning Devices for Refrigerator-Ca1- Doors, errm's appear in the printml :swcifimflon requiring correction as follows: Page 2, line 29,

f0! ihe word The" i'asad read 5L9; page line i9, for the word floor read LEI/0r, and that the said Letters Pam-st should read with thvsc cmrvct-ions therein that the same may conform to thv 1: .0111 of tin case in the Patent (755cc.

Sig? Ad and sealed this 8th day of Gctuher, A. D. 1912.

(J. U. BILLINGS,

Arting Comm-imimwr of Iatmts.

my name this 18th day of September, 1911. 10

TM}; mine page, line 70, for the. refelence-mlmeral 39 

